The Billionaire’s Broken Contract

Chapter 7: Impossible Standards

Riley's POV

"Again." Brett didn't look up from his laptop as he spoke.

I stood in the center of Brett's office, my hands trembling as I recited the names and details of his business contacts for the third time in an hour. My voice shook slightly as I tried to remember everything perfectly.

"David Mark, CEO of Mark Industries, married to Susan, two daughters, plays golf at Riverside Country Club, prefers red wine, graduated from Harvard Business School in"

"Wrong." Brett's voice interrupted my recitation. He slammed his laptop shut and fixed me with a stare that could kill. "He graduated from Wharton, not Harvard. And his wife's name is Sandra, not Susan."

My stomach dropped as I felt heat rush to my face. "I'm sorry, I"

"You're not sorry enough." He stood from behind his massive desk, his gray eyes cold. "This is the third mistake you've made today."

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the shaking. "I'm trying my best."

"Your best isn't good enough." He stopped just close enough that I had to tilt my head back to look at him.

Marcus shifted uncomfortably in his chair by the window, the leather creaking under his weight. He'd been watching this humiliation for the past hour, his expression growing more troubled by the minute.

"Perhaps we should take a break," Marcus suggested gently, his voice careful and measured. "Ms. Plia has been studying for four hours straight."

Brett's gaze never left me, but his voice turned ice-cold when he addressed his assistant. "Did I ask for your opinion, Marcus?"

Marcus looked down at his hands, his shoulders sagging slightly. "No, sir."

Brett stepped closer to me, close enough that I could smell his expensive cologne. "You want to see your daughter today, don't you, Riley?"

My heart clenched in my chest. "Yes."

"Then you'll get every single detail perfect." He circled me slowly. "No mistakes and definitely no excuses."

I nodded quickly, afraid to trust my voice. "I understand."

"Do you? Because your performance suggests otherwise." He completed his circle and stood directly in front of me again. "In my world, there are no participation trophies. You either succeed or you fail."

I lifted my chin. "I won't fail again."

"You already have." He returned to his desk with casual indifference, picking up a thick file and flipping through it. "But I'm feeling generous today. I'm going to give you one more chance."

Hope flickered in my chest. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." His smile was sharp, not reaching his cold eyes. "You're going to stand in that corner during my three o'clock meeting. If you can remain silent and still for the entire hour, I'll consider letting you see Lily before dinner."

My cheeks burned with humiliation so intense I felt dizzy. "The corner?"

"Like the child you're acting like." He gestured dismissively to the corner behind his desk, not even looking up from his file. "Face the wall. Don't speak and dont move."

Marcus looked horrified, his face going pale. "Mr. Graham, surely that's not"

"Marcus," Brett said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "One more word and you'll be looking for a new job."

Marcus's mouth snapped shut. He looked at me with pity that made my shame even worse.

I walked to the corner on unsteady legs and turned to face the wall. The expensive wallpaper blurred in front of my eyes. Behind me, I heard Brett's clients arrive, their voices booming with confidence and success.

"Gentlemen, please excuse the... decoration." Brett's voice carried amusement that made my skin crawl. "She's learning proper behavior."

I closed my eyes and tried to disappear into myself. For the next hour, I stood motionless as they discussed million-dollar deals, treating me like furniture. My legs ached, my back cramped, and tears of shame burned behind my eyes.

But I didn't move. I didn't speak. I didn't give Brett the satisfaction of seeing me break

When the meeting finally ended and I heard the clients leave, Brett's voice cut through the silence."You may turn around."

I turned slowly, my legs shaking from standing still for so long. Brett was leaning back in his chair, studying me.

"Better," he said, nodding once with approval. "You can see your daughter for thirty minutes before dinner."

Relief flooded through me so fast I nearly stumbled. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me." He picked up his phone and started scrolling through messages. "Thank your daughter. Without her, you'd have no reason to endure this."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and left his office as quickly as I could without running. In the hallway, I managed to keep my composure until I reached the bathroom. My heels clicked against the marble floor with each hurried step.

Then I broke.

I gripped the marble sink with both hands, my knuckles turning white. I sobbed as quietly as possible, my whole body shaking with the effort of keeping silent. The woman in the mirror was a stranger perfectly styled hair, expensive clothes, flawless makeup but underneath it all, I was still the same desperate woman who'd slept in her car just days ago.

The difference was that now I had golden chains.

I heard footsteps approaching the bathroom door. Heavy footsteps that I recognized immediately. Brett's footsteps. My heart hammered against my ribs as I tried to control my breathing.

I forced myself to stop crying, wiping my face frantically with shaking hands. The tears stung my eyes, a familiar ache from years ago when I'd stood alone, betrayed by someone I'd trusted with my dreams.

I wiped my face again, pressing my palms against my cheeks to stop the trembling. I stared at my reflection and vowed not to break again.

The footsteps paused outside the door. I held my breath, waiting. Then they continued down the hallway, fading into silence.

I stared at my reflection, drawing on every ounce of strength I had left. My green eyes looked hollow, but they were dry now. Lily was waiting for me, and I wouldn't let her see me shatter. Even if I was breaking apart inside, piece by piece, with every passing hour in this golden prison.